b'and interacted with people from around the world.I experienced it in their desire to connect with God and to grow closer to Jesus.Reflecting on the pilgrimage, Samantha Diaz, a member of a newly forming Marianist Lay Community in San Antonio, said, I think that in a world where it seems like the secular is taking over, its nice to see so many young people pilgrimaging and turning to what is truly goodthat is, Jesus Christ.Sebastian Conway-Phillips, an engineer from Honolulu, added: The Church isnt going to fizzle out. There is a new generation now. I agree wholeheartedly: These young people carry a goodness and a vibrancy that are signs of hope to me. We often think of young people as the Church of the future. But they are really the Church of today, spreading the message of Jesus Christ with joy and with much hope. Pope Leo continued to express the same themes that his predecessor began. During an open-air prayer vigilthe one for which he arrived in that white helicopterhe encouraged young people aroundOne of the highlights for our group was the University of Dayton student the world to grow in friendship with Jesus. Pope Leoopportunity to walk in pilgrimage through the Matthew Himes chats withfellow pilgrims during the said: Friendship with Christ, which forms the basisJubilee Holy Door of St. Peter Basilica. We carried young adults trip to Rome. of faith, is not just one aid among many others fora large cross and prayed psalms as we entered the building the future; it is our guiding star.church, ending our journey at the tomb of SaintAt Left: This Life Teen T-shirt That night, we slept outside on thePeter, an apostle and the first pope. Emily Koman,worn by Matthew Himes in Rome quotes the Blessed grassy field, and even a short rain showeran alumna of Marianist-sponsored North CatholicMother: "My soul magnifiesdidnt dampen our enthusiasm. The nextHigh School in Pittsburgh and a sophomore at thethe Lord." morning, Pope Leo concluded the celebra- University of Dayton, was moved by this experience. tion of Mass by telling the young people:Thats the tomb that holds someone who went You will be seeds of hope where youfishing, who doubted, who simply tried to follow live, in your families, among your friends,Jesus, she said, noting that Saint Peter was a normal at school, at work, and in sports. You willguy, but now he has this whole big Church. be seeds of hope with Christ, our hope. Fast forward some 2000 years, and Pope Leo is I already had witnessed this hope inthe successor of Peter. Katie Kastner, a high schoolFOR MOREthe Marianist young adults with me on pilgrimage. teacher in Honolulu, found hope in the fact thatINFORMATIONMatthew Himes, a junior business major at UniversityPope Leo is a regular guy with a divine calling, about the Office ofof Dayton (Ohio), learned the importance and valuereminding all of us that we are called to holinessSponsorship, visit of simply having a conversation with another personeven in the midst of our regular lives. We, too, canwww.marianist.com/ and growing in community, saying, Christianbe saints in our own ways. sponsorship.friendships are not only possible but are also powerful.These reflections and these young people echo the Anthony Durocher, a senior at Chaminade Universitycall that Pope Leo left with the young people gathered in Honolulu, said, I want to be a light to others, livingin Rome as well as those who werent able to be there: my life as Jesus did with love, patience, and compassion.The world needs messages of hope. You are that These, and many more, are seeds of hope thatmessage, and you must continue to give hope to have been planted. I trust that they will bear goodeveryone. We hope that all of you will always be fruit as these young people continue to walk as signs of hope in the world! pilgrims of hope. And this gives me great hope!Opposite page: Members of the young adult group enjoyedFather Robert Jones, SM, ministers at University ofsightseeing in Rome, including a stop at the Colosseum. Dayton (Ohio). marianist.com/donate15'